Feature photo by Andy Shepard
In the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic, with political upheaval and international uncertainty prevailing in every news clip, tweet, Facebook post and Instagram story, I bring you some good news from the resilient and ever-hopeful wedding industry in Tucson, Arizona: Love is winning.
With new normals, new precautions, new protocols, and educated choices, we, as photographers, are not giving up. Instead, we’re pivoting. We’re finding new and creative ways to tell our stories – and our client’s stories — and we are finding ways to thrive.
In a pandemic, where physical distance is necessary, we are connecting more thoughtfully and considerately with our clients. We are empathizing, sympathizing, and lending virtual shoulders to cry on. And, in this spirit of calculated caution, mixed with the need to still put food on our tables, we know we will get through this and be better for it. Because we know that love will always find a way.
Inspired by my fellow wedding photographers here in Arizona, I reached out to ask how COVID-19 has impacted them, their photography businesses, and the wedding industry in general. Here are our 14 different perspectives, along with COVID wedding photos we’ve taken during these trying times.
Q: What has being a photographer during the COVID-19 pandemic taught you?
We can adapt.
“COVID-19 has changed the wedding industry exponentially. It has taught me to be patient, flexible and giving. While this pandemic has been hard on small businesses, it has also been incredibly hard on couples planning their wedding. Some have to plan and re-plan wedding days, unable to do what they have always dreamed of for their special day. My heart goes out to all of them!” — Makayla McGarvey, Makayla McGarvey Photography
“The wedding industry isn’t one that changes terribly often. Weddings are so steeped in tradition that many of us in the industry have gotten used to consistent norms for the last decade or so. COVID-19 has been one of those monumental changes that no one could have expected. But, it has taught all of us that we need to adapt, and that the industry needs to change.
“I had already begun my shift into photographing elopements exclusively, but COVID-19 has emphasized that we need to be agile and up for change. We, as an industry, need to have bullet-proof contracts, solid marketing plans, and flexible business strategies to stay afloat! These lessons have been hard-earned, but my business is certainly better for it.” — Kiley Harmon, Kiley Harmon Photography
“As a wedding photographer, the news of events and gatherings being cancelled this spring was devastating, not just for me as a business owner, but for my couples who I knew were crushed to watch their wedding plans fall apart. However, I was quickly reminded that in the midst of struggle, love always prevails. I watched and helped so many of my couples find ways to celebrate their love in smaller, safer ways and I truly feel that the pandemic has brought weddings back to their roots.
“I find myself and my couples focusing less on the frivolous details and more on the people and the feelings. I have seen my couples find the most creative ways to stay connected and celebrate their love, like Zoom bridal showers, intimate elopements in the most beautiful places, virtual receiving lines, masked dance parties and so much more. It’s been inspiring to see that love finds a way, even in the midst of one of the hardest years that many of us have ever experienced.” — Andrea O’Bert, Andrea O’Bert Photography
We are essential.
“It has taught me how very important our job actually is. At the beginning of COVID-19 we definitely felt pretty non-essential, but as time went on and people started doing small ceremonies where it was sometimes just the photographer, the couple, witnesses, and an officiant, I realized just how important and how essential we are to our couples.” — Maria Gawne, The Gawnes Photography
We are resilient.
“During the pandemic I’ve learned how incredibly resilient business owners are. We’re currently undergoing a period of time where entrepreneurs have had to pivot in their businesses and find new ways to generate income. It was something that initially looked daunting, like perhaps COVID-19 was going to cause business owners to forfeit dreams they had worked toward for years. But this pandemic has actually shown that regardless of the circumstance, there are always windows of opportunity. It’s been incredibly inspiring during this impactful time.” — Lara Catherine Gabrielsen, Lara Catherine Photography
“I have learned more about love and appreciation this year than during my entire career as a wedding photographer prior to the pandemic. Just within these past few months, I’ve seen some of the craziest, yet sweetest moments.
COVID-19 has stolen a lot from us — celebrations, graduations, first birthday parties and so much more — however it has shown us innovative ways to celebrate in a digital age. It might’ve stolen our envisioned way to live, but it has given us something greater. It has taught me that no matter what — a global pandemic in our case — we as a human race will find ways to connect and to create. We will push the barriers of what we perceive as normal, and we will continue to grow together. It has especially taught me that we will always find a way to celebrate love.” — Brianna Gomez, Brianna Gomez Photography
Q: How is your photography business changing as a result of COVID-19?
We’re being flexible.
“I’m worrying less, living more. I am a planner and a do-er by nature, and so I decided that worrying wasn’t going to fix anything. Instead, I figured out how to keep doing more with less. I found different ways to generate income in the photography space with more advertising, I cut out things I really didn’t need, and I am focusing more on the things that matter. I got on a plane to photograph a wedding that had changed locations, and I wore a mask the whole time. It’s what I had to do because photography is what I am meant to be doing. If I can make safe, educated, and calculated risks to continue to do what I do, then I will.” — Jacquelynn Buck, Photography by Jacquelynn
We’re focusing on people.
“Being a photographer during COVID-19 has really taught me that, although the purpose of a profession is to make a living, my real job as a photographer is to make people happy. I had to adjust to the flow of clients as events got cancelled. Money became tight for people, and clients no longer wanted to meet up with a photographer. I realized that I should offer photo shoots for people at prices they could afford during a difficult financial time, even if it meant I wasn’t making as much as I usually would be. So, I am adjusting to peoples’ specific needs in order to make sure they are happy. And I still get to do what I love. “ — Taylor Nations, Taylor Nations Photography
“The sacrifices my clients make is something I’ve always known about in some capacity. This year the reality of those sacrifices is far more obvious. I’ve always been empathetic when capturing a wedding, but working more closely with brides and grooms as they pivot their plans and try and reconstruct their perfect day has ultimately had a very positive impact on the relationship I have with my clients. We’ve bonded more through the planning process and I’ve learned that a little more time and emotional support from my side goes a long way in building trust and making better images for them.” — Andy Shepard, Andy Shepard Photography
“While I still have a love for large weddings, I feel that my business, and the wedding industry in general, will begin to lean more towards smaller events. I have always been very involved in the planning process with my couples, giving them tips and advice to make the most of their day, but I feel like now I will have even more knowledge to help them make plans (and backup plans, and backup plans for their backup plans) and to appreciate the moments more than ever.
“Logistically, my cancellation policies have also greatly changed. For me and most vendors, there was very little give when it came to rescheduling and cancelling prior to the pandemic. However, I believe that for me and many others, we have learned that nothing is for certain and it’s so important to give each other grace in times of struggle.” — Andrea O’Bert, Andrea O’Bert Photography
We’re investing in other things.
“During COVID-19 I’ve learned the importance of business strategy and marketing and I’ve taken the time to still invest in my business marketing strategies. As I’ve done this, I have actually booked more clients this year than last year. As a photographer I would love to only worry about the art, but the business and marketing strategies are arguably even more important than the art.” — Rachael Elizabeth Wardell, Rachael Elizabeth Photography
“I generally have a hectic amount of work in the spring, fall and winter for Arizona’s wedding season. The absence of work absolutely caused an initial panic, but having a schedule that’s not as busy can be a blessing in disguise. Because of the amount of time I’m not dedicating to work, I’ve had the opportunity to put a lot of time toward self-care, personal relationships and overall health, which is something I didn’t know I needed, but am incredibly grateful for.” — Lara Catherine Gabrielsen, Lara Catherine Photography
We’re working in new ways.
“COVID-19 has taught me that I have to be flexible and keep on learning. We are now offering interior design photography as well as product photography. Even though weddings are still my favorite, I know now that there are many more markets I need to explore. I’ve also become an expert in dealing remotely with my customers. Before, I would always try to meet clients face-to-face. Now, I still do, but it’s through a computer screen — and that has become so natural!”” — Lupita Ramirez, Solaris Photography
“We’ve started to include videography and professional live stream services. It means so much to our couples that their family and friends can view their ceremony safely.” — Maria Gawne, The Gawnes Photography
“I am calling my clients more and offering more help via email. I feel like this has still allowed us to get to know each other.” — Rachael Elizabeth Wardell, Rachael Elizabeth Photography
Q: Are things back to normal? If not, how has your business been impacted?
We’re moving forward.
“No, and we might never be. But we aren’t going to worry about it. We are going to adapt, pivot, and move forward. We, as an industry, are not going to collapse because of the pandemic. Photographers — and our clients — will find ways to still do what matters, with the people who matter, safely, and always with the hope that today, and every day, love WILL win.
I work closely with a company called ShootDotEdit helping them build relationships between photographers, educators, and the community as a whole. As such, in the last two months they have seen a huge uptick in wedding photographers submitting jobs for editing. It is truly inspirational to see that photographers nationally and internationally are on the comeback, in a major way, and so busy that they need editing services.
It was this that inspired me to begin collecting my fellow Arizona photographers’ responses to the pandemic for this article. What I have learned is that we are an industry that never left, and that is absolutely coming back because we tell stories and COVID-19 is nothing if not a story in the making to be told and retold long after it is over.” — Jacquelynn Buck, Photography by Jacquelynn
We’re embracing a new normal.
“I think we have a long ways to go before we can say things are back to normal. However, I feel like we have reached a new normal, where I can still do what I love with confidence and instill the confidence in my couples that their wedding day will be great, even if it’s not quite what they had planned.” — Andrea O’Bert, Andrea O’Bert Photography
“Things are not yet back to normal, but I think that’s a good thing. ‘Normal’ wasn’t serving everyone. For many, a huge wedding is a great fit, but for couples who are more introverted and less excited about the parade that a wedding can become, drifting away from ‘normal’ is a good thing. The market needed to expand to serve people who want something smaller and more intentional, and it has!” — Kiley Harmon, Kiley Harmon Photography
We miss our clients.
“Something that makes me feel like my business is still very impacted right now is the human interaction I can no longer have with my clients. I love to shake their hands when I meet them, hug them when I say goodbye, and get close enough to show them the pictures on my camera during a photo shoot. I greatly miss these interactions and do feel very impacted that I can’t express my excitement and love towards my clients.” — Taylor Nations, Taylor Nations Photography
“Due to COVID-19, most of my wedding inquiries dried up. There are still so many people waiting to move forward with wedding plans for fear of another wave of COVID-19. Also, venues are still operating at only 50% capacity, which completely affects the size of the wedding that is allowed, and that is also deterring some couples. I don’t anticipate my business will be back to normal until fall of 2021 at the earliest.” — Chelsea Garner, Chelsea Garner Photography LLC
Q: How will the wedding industry be different because of this pandemic?
Eloping will be more popular.
“Of course when the pandemic hit, the whole world paused. I think almost every type of photographer took a hit in the beginning months. I slowed down tremendously, too. I had several weddings reschedule and a few even canceled. But after June, I don’t feel like anything has drastically changed in my business due to COVID-19. If anything, my business has grown greatly due to everyone being online more. Couples have more time to plan and more time to research their vendors.
“With that being said, the only thing drastically different in my business is my emphasis on human connection and the value of elopements. Because hey, you don’t have to get married in front of 100+ people for your marriage to be real, ya know? Eloping is growing in popularity and for good reason. Love doesn’t wait, so why should you? Just get married already.” — Brianna Gomez, Brianna Gomez Photography
“As a photographer who once specialized in large, traditional weddings, but who now specializes in elopements, I think elopements and intimate ‘micro’ weddings are here to stay. Elopements used to be an extremely niche specialty, but there are so many more couples now who are opting for that option now that it’s hit the mainstream. This shift in the industry to smaller, more intimate wedding experiences are truly a better fit for so many couples, and now that they know eloping doesn’t have to consist of running off to Vegas (you can elope in Yosemite or other gorgeous locations like Saguaro National Park!), it’s going to be great for those of us who are also wanting to photograph more intimate weddings and elopements. It’s a great shift!” — Kiley Harmon, Kiley Harmon Photography
Weddings will become more personal.
“Certainly there will be some lasting quirks, I hope. My favorite has been the gentle straying from traditional portions of the day that have no personal meaning to my couples. This year has finally allowed them to really evaluate what’s important in their day. When only a few family members or even just witnesses are in attendance, things like cake cuttings, bouquet tosses, and the little extras easily get omitted and the events of the day are just normal moments that define the personalities of the couple. Traditional events are swapped with fun conversations and quality time with the loved ones present.
“Perhaps the biggest difference going forward will be that couples will reshape the image of a traditional wedding timeline into something more personal.” — Andy Shepard, Andy Shepard Photography
Small weddings are in.
“I believe that weddings will continue to trend as more intimate, outdoor-centric affairs into 2021 and probably beyond, and that couples will pare down to only the things most important to them. I think the large parties that have been postponed will possibly not be rescheduled, and large events that have been rescheduled will be either forgotten altogether or reduced in numbers. And I believe those planning future weddings will err cautiously in planning large events until there is a vaccine available.
“The upside to this is that we will continue to see pure joy amongst couples who, when removed from the all-consuming stress of planning a huge wedding, will actually reconnect to the reasons they decided to get married in the first place and focus on the things of utmost importance that tell their story. Photographically, this is when the magic happens — just the two of them, alone together, there purely for love.” — Jacquelynn, Photography by Jacquelynn
Weddings will go on.
“One obvious change has been people’s ability to gather together for big and small events alike. We love what we do because we get the opportunity to capture people’s love and connection, but capturing laughter, joy, and emotion can all be challenging when everyone is wearing masks and adhering to social distancing rules.” — Bryan & Anh, West End Photography
“Shoots are starting to pick up with more safety measures in place such as wearing masks and using zoom lenses to keep a safe distance between me and my subjects. I don’t believe there will be many drastic, everlasting changes to my business. I am staying positive that the world will slowly make the shift back to normal.” — Jen Schrantz, Jen Bee Photography
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